Former Talmer bankers tied to Michigan de novo effort

A pair for former Talmer Bancorp bankers are part of an effort to open a de novo in a Detroit suburb.

Organizers of Community Unity Bancorp in Birmingham, Mich., applied on Jan. 12 with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for deposit insurance. 

“We will serve the banking needs of our market area through commercial lending in the small business to lower middle-market commercial segments, full-service retail, mortgage and others, including in underserved areas,” the group said in the application. 

The proposed bank would offer commercial and residential mortgages, commercial and consumer loans and credit lines and construction and development loans. It would also provide online banking, commercial cash management services, wire transfers and mobile banking. 

Organizers plans to raise $25 million in initial capital. 

Andrew Meisner would serve as the proposed bank’s CEO. He was the treasurer for Oakland County, Mich., from 2009 to 2021, where he was also chief investment officer for a $1.5 billion investment portfolio. He was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives from 2002 to 2008.

Maria Dubiel is set to become chief credit officer. She was a special assets director at TCF Bank, joining the company through its 2019 acquisition of Chemical Bank. Before that, she was at Talmer when it was sold in 2016 to Chemical. 

The proposed bank’s chief financial officer would be Timothy Blazejewski. He previously served as the chief investment officer of Chemical Bank following its purchase of Talmer.